Mizoram government yet to adopt resolution opposing scrapping of FMR

AIZAWL: The Mizoram council of ministers has not yet passed a resolution opposing the scrapping of the Free Movement Regime (FMR) with neighbouring Myanmar.

This was revealed by Mizoram home minister K Sapdanga.

Mizoram home minister Sapdanga stated that the state government learned about the plan to revoke the FMR with Myanmar solely through media reports.

The FMR, which allowed people residing near the India-Myanmar border to travel 16 km into each other's territory without a visa, was terminated by the Centre earlier this month.

Thousands of individuals from Myanmar sought refuge in Mizoram following the military coup in Myanmar in 2021.

Despite Mizoram chief minister Lalduhoma's previous statement expressing a desire to retain the FMR, citing the historic ties between the Mizo people in India and Myanmar, no official resolution has been passed by the state’s council of ministers to oppose its abolition.

However, Sapdanga indicated that the matter would be presented for discussion at an upcoming Mizoram cabinet meeting.

Furthermore, the Mizoram NGO Coordination Committee, comprising five major civil society organizations and student bodies, including the Central Young Mizo Association (CYMA) and Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP), has also voiced opposition to both fencing the Indo-Myanmar border and scrapping the FMR.

Many of the refugees from Myanmar in Mizoram belong to the Chin community, also known as the Zo, which shares ancestry and culture with the Mizos of Mizoram.